CNN Central News & Network-ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: On the second day of the Tagore Natya Mahotsav on Monday, an impactful stage presentation of storyteller Santosh Choubey’s well-known story “Garibnawaz” was held at Ravindra Bhavan. Directed by noted theatre director Devendra Raj Ankur, the production was staged by Delhi’s “Sambhav” Art Group. The festival is being organised jointly by Tagore National School of Drama, Vishwarang Foundation and Rabindranath Tagore University.
“Garibnawaz” is the story of an entrepreneur, Vishwamohan, who returns to India after studying and building a career in the United States, driven by the desire for better values and upbringing for his children. Being vegetarian, his discomfort with food habits in the United States also becomes one of the reasons for his return. After coming back to India, he establishes a BPO company and builds a grand office in the city, earning recognition as a successful professional.
However, right next to his impressive office, a chicken kiosk opens under the name “Garibnawaz”. Seeing chickens being cut in front of his eyes every day becomes a source of discomfort for him. The situation becomes more complicated when another kiosk selling tea and samosas opens. In trying to complain, Vishwamohan himself gets caught in a political trap. In this way, a personal discomfort gradually brings to the fore a broader picture of market forces, a changing social environment and political conflict.
Author: Santosh Choubey. Poet, storyteller and novelist Santosh Choubey is among the rare Hindi literary figures who have been equally active in the fields of literature and science. His six short story collections – “Halke Rang Ki Kameez”, “Restaurant Mein Dopahar”, “Nau Binduon Ka Khel”, “Beech Prem Mein Gandhi”, “Pratinidhi Kahaniyan” and “Magar Shakespeare Ko Yaad Rakhna” – and four novels – “Raag Kedar”, “Kya Pata Comrade Mohan”, “Jal Tarang” and “Sapnon Ki Duniya Mein Blackhole” – have been published and widely discussed. His poetry collections include “Kahin Aur Sach Honge Sapne”, “Kona Dharti Ka”, “Is A-Kavi Samay Mein” and “Ghar Bahar”. His stories have been staged at various platforms, including Bharat Bhavan and the National School of Drama, New Delhi, and have continued to be published in leading newspapers and magazines of the country.
Director Devendra Raj Ankur: Devendra Raj Ankur, who holds a postgraduate degree in Hindi literature from Delhi University and specialised in direction at the National School of Drama, has directed productions with several professional and amateur theatre groups across the country. A founding member of the “Sambhav” group and the pioneer of “Kahani Ka Rangmanch”, Ankur has been associated with workshops across the country as a teacher, camp director and theatre director. He has translated plays from various languages into Hindi and has also written regularly on theatre. More than seven of his books on theatre criticism have been published. Prof. Ankur, a recipient of the Tagore Fellowship, has served as director of the National School of Drama. He has been honoured with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for his special contribution to theatre.
Hashtags: #MadhyaPradesh #Bhopal #Garibnawaz #TagoreNatyaMahotsav #RavindraBhavan #SantoshChoubey #DevendraRajAnkur #SambhavArtGroup #GaribnawazStagedAtTagore #MadhyaPradeshState
